Trainspotting Background

Trainspotting Background

These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community.
We are thankful of their contributions and encourage you to make your own.

Written by Hector Rivera

Trainspotting is the first novel by Scottish writer Irvine Welsh, first published in 1993. The novel is told in as a collection of short stories revolving around a circle of friends, who some of them are heroin users. The seven sections of the story are narrated by different characters, however, most of the stories are narrated by Mark Renton. The chapters are written in different dialects depending on the character. Chapters narrated by Renton are written with Scots dialects, while Davie Mitchell’s are written in Scottish English. The story follows Mark Renton, who is at the center of a clique of junkies, he wants to give up his heroin habit since it affects his relationship with friends and family.

When the novel was first published it became a cult success, but some readers were offended and shocked by the material. Some readers enjoyed that the novel does not have a set in the stone plot since it’s a story told in pieces giving the reader an insight into each character’s life.

The film adaptation premiered on February 23, 1996, starring Ewan McGregor playing the role of Mark Renton. The film became a cult classic, as a result, a sequel based on the second book “Porno” is expected to hit theaters in 2017.